Nehemiah

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Nehemiah

• Conspiracy to stop the work
• Chapter 6

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Introduction

• The work of rebuilding is almost done
• Only thing left was to hang the gates
• But the enemies were not done
• Nehemiah 61-2
• They had tried force and failed
• Now they were going to try some alternatives

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Priorities

• Neh. 62-3
• Sanballat wanted to delay Nehemiah
• Also would have been a good opportunity to harm
  Nehemiah
• Nehemiah had his priorities right
• The work of the Lord was more important

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Priorities

• Do we have our priorities right?
• Lk 959-62
• Lk 1038-42
• Mt 633
• The things of God must be our priority

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Slander and Intimidation

• Neh. 64-9
• Sanballat made public charges that Nehemiah was
  planning to rebel and become king (slander)
• Also said he would pass this information on to
  the king (intimidation)
• Nehemiah denied the charges
• He prayed to God and got on with the work

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Slander and Intimidation

• Today we may be slandered as we do the Lords
  work
• We may be accused of
• Trying to run the church
• Being mean-spirited
• Being a trouble-maker
• Prov 119
• We must be strong and not give in to slander
• We must trust in God and get on with the work

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Betrayal

• Neh. 610-14
• Shemaiah asked Nehemiah to hide in the temple
• Nehemiah refused for 3 reasons
• It was unlawful (Num 187)
• Nehemiah knew he had to set a good example
• He realized he was being set up
• And again he prayed to God

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Betrayal

• Four important lessons
• Situation ethics is always wrong
• We must always be concerned with our example and
  influence
• We must consider whether our plans, even those of
  close friends, are in accordance with Gods plans
• We must not allow anything to keep us from doing
  the work of the Lord

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Internal Corruption

• Neh. 615-19
• Tobiah has informants on the inside
• He used the information to try to frighten
  Nehemiah
• Satan always prefers to work from the inside
• Acts 2028-30

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Conclusion

• Nehemiah is an amazing example
• He kept working for the Lord
• Despite murder threats, slander, betrayal, and
  corruption
• He used wisdom and willpower to finish the work
• He kept his priorities straight at all times
• And finished in an astounding 52 days
• Are we willing to get the Lords work done?
• Will we allow difficulties to stop the work?

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